Publication: Mining Review Africa
Issue: January 2019

On the back of an “exceptionally good year” in 2018, 97-year old proudly South African engineering and environmental consulting firm Knight Piésold (SA) is looking to build further on its strong achievements in 2019. Thanks to its fully transformed, Level 1 BBBEE, 57% black ownership structure status and growing office footprint in Africa, the company is well positioned to service the entire African continent – using its award-winning technical experts to deliver industry revolutionising solutions for the mining sector, technical director for mining ANDREW COPELAND tells LAURA CORNISH.

2018 saw Knight Piésold truly excel across the industries it serves with a number of accolades added to its growing list of achievements.

The company won 14 awards from industry associations including Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) and the Institute of Municipal Engineers (IMESA). This is the highest number of awards won by a firm this year and is recognition of the company’s excellence in engineering, business and mentorship – “proving that it is possible for a world-class South African-owned consulting engineering firm to thrive in the global arena, while operating in harmony with the transformation goals of its home country,” says MD Vishal Haripersad.

“This demonstrates not only that we are delivering high quality projects and designs, but that we are being recognised accordingly. This is testament to our highly skilled internal experts and our ability to provide a platform to nurture their growth and build their careers in the industry,” Copeland adds.

On the back of this philosophy and ethos of cultivating and developing its workforce, Copeland believes Knight Piésold is well positioned to grow further in 2019 as more of the industry engages with the company to advise and work on more prestigious projects – particularly in the area of mine residue where many of the mid-tier and major mining houses are injecting additional focus to improve tailings facility safety and stability through analyses and a greater understanding of associated risks.

“Growth does bring with it staff shortage challenges but we will expand our team where necessary and more importantly, train our existing team, including junior staff members to gain sufficient knowledge and learn our entire skills suite across the industries we serve.”

In support of this, Knight Piésold has focused on developing the next generation of South African engineers through investments in mathematics and science at secondary schools throughout South Africa. In 2019, the company will make 10 bursaries available to first-year civil engineering students. The qualifying criteria are tough but fair, with deserving students required to achieve a minimum of 75% in pure mathematics and science.

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